The days when consumers have to throw away containers of condiments with contents still remaining in them may soon be over with LiquiGlide, a slippery coating that allows viscous products to slide easily.
The Cambridge-based LiquiGlide announced on Monday its deal with Norwegian consumer-goods company Orkla ASA, which will give the latter rights to use its nonstick coating for mayonnaise products.
The coating will allow condiments to easily slide from the packaging, which will give consumers better experience and reduce food waste. The customized coating that will be used for Orkla's mayonnaise products is likewise 100 percent made from natural ingredients.
The ingredients used for each of the custom coatings are chosen from hundreds of materials and are based on the particular needs of the applications. Coating can also be made entirely from food so it meets safety standards.
"We chose to work with Orkla because they are an innovative and leading consumer goods company in the Nordics and the Baltics. Our exclusive agreement affirms that LiquiGlide's coatings create substantial value for consumers by enabling them to get every last drop," said LiquiGlide CEO Dave Smith. "At LiquiGlide, we're changing the way liquids move."
In 2009, Smith and Kripa Varanasi developed LiquiGlide, a liquid impregnated coating that serves as a slippery barrier between a viscous liquid and a surface. If this is applied inside a condiment bottle, the coating sticks permanently to the sides, which will allow the condiment to slide off completely without residue.
The company is now courting deals with a number of consumer goods makers, such as those that specialize in beauty supplies, food and household products. Varanasi said that their coating can work with many products because they can tailor each coating to meet the requirements of the application.
"Interfaces are ubiquitous," Varanasi said. "We want to be everywhere."
Besides giving consumers convenience and savings, LiquiGlide can also reduce the amount of products that go to waste, especially food that stick to container sides.
In 2009, Consumer Reports revealed that up to 15 percent of bottled condiments get thrown away. Varanasi also added that keeping the bottles clean could reduce use of water and energy. It could also cut the costs associated with rinsing bottles before they are recycled. LiquiGlide likewise has potentials for use in medical devices, airplane wings, as well as oil and gas pipelines.
